Wow, time flies when you're having fun! I've started to make a list of things we want to see and do while we're in this neck of the woods, and since we only have the weekends available this time around, we better start 'a-sight-seeing' or we're not going to make it!

By the way, I've not mentioned this yet, but yes, I'm working too. Since their housekeeper quit just before the start of the season, I'm helping to clean rooms and cabins here at Recreational Springs. 

In exchange for 12.5 hrs/wk we're having free rent with FHU which comes to $10/hr. Not a bad deal I'd say.

So, since we're both working during the week, we're doing our sight-seeing in the weekends, and we're just hoping for some nice weather every time Saturday comes around. 

So far, we're pretty lucky! 

And so, two weeks ago, we were off to see one of the most visited sights in northern Wyoming, Devils Tower, just about an hour away from us, on a beautiful, sunny, summer morning.

First stop along the way was a visit to the Vore Buffalo Jump, only a stone's throw from the I-80, about 15 minutes passed Spearfish.

This giant natural sinkhole, formed where gypsum soil was eroded, leaving a steep-sided pit about 40 feet (12 m) deep and 200 feet (61 m) in diameter was used by at least 5 different native tribes to stampede bison in the direction of the pit, which was deep enough to kill or disable the animals that were driven into it.

It is one of a number of buffalo jump sites in the north central United States and southern Canada. The Vore site, so called because located on the Vore family property, was used as a kill and butchering site from about 1500 AD to about 1800 AD.

Archeological investigations in the 1970s uncovered bones and projectile points to a depth of 15 feet (4.6 m). Only about 5% of the jump has been excavated so far but it is estimated that around 20,000 bison and thousands of stone tools are scattered over 22 levels that extend nearly 20 feet deep.

In 1982 the site was transferred to the University by the Vore family and later to the Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation, which has built a small interpretive center and provides interpretive services.

After a very informative tour and a short coffee break we continued our way west, entering Wyoming and following the 'loop' route that would bring us around to Devils Tower.

It's a beautiful drive through this eastern part of Wyoming!

 

We made a short stop in Aladdin, population 15 (!), to visit the old country store that pretty much makes up most of the town, and houses aisles full of old fashioned 'stuff' from days-gone-by, intermingled with touristy kitsch.

                                    

Further along the way we had lunch in Hulett, a picturesque little cowboy town, made up of a few very funky and photogenic saloons and trading posts.

 Do you think they hunt around here?

We went for 'the best food in town', according to the local sheriff we talked to, which happened to be a little BBQ shack on the side of main street. The 'chef' turned out to be also the local mayor and police commissioner!

Brisket 'sammich'

Finally, as we were following the beautiful valley carved out by the Belle Fourche River, we started to see glimpses of our destination, growing bigger and bigger with each turn of the winding road until it rose up in front of us with it's full height of 867 feet, base to summit.

Devils Tower, the Nation's first National monument, a geological marvel, steeped in Indian legend and the setting for scenes in 'Close Encounters ...'.

 

The rock formation is thought to be the remnants of a small intrusive body, a sort of 'plug', formed by magma erupting from a volcano, which cooled and hardened under the surface and was later exposed due to erosion of sedimentary rock.

After a short visit to the small visitor information center, we hiked the  short and easy hiking trail (1 1/4 miles), that surrounds the mountain and gives you impressive views of all sides, 

               

 

.... and of the beautiful Belle Fourche River below, that winds it's way through the surrounding Wyoming countryside .....

It was an exceptional warm day and we were grateful for the shade of the Pondarosa Pines along the trail.

Off course there were wild-flowers:

 .... and another Prairie-dog town ....

All in all, we really enjoyed this monument. There were quite a few people in the parking lot, but the area is big enough that on the trail we found ourselves pretty much by ourselves most of the time. Just like we like it!

We continued to follow the 'loop' towards Sundance, but must have blinked going into town, because all of a sudden we noticed we were already through it! ;-)

To say it was nothing to speak of, is an understatement.

  

A little before 5pm we pulled up in front of the Canyon Springs Stage Coach Steakhouse after following a never ending dirt road for about 4 miles into the 'middle of nowhere'!

This quaint little restaurant, just north of Newcastle, WY, which was recommended to us by Steffany and Brett, the owners of the campground we're staying at, is run by only 2 people, Frank and Judy, who also happen to be the owners.

It's an, except for your choice of meat, 'you-eat-what-the-chef-serves- you' kind of place, which guarantees lots of freshness and creativeness and always a surprise!

 We had the rib-eye steak and it was done to perfection and absolutely delicious! Since we split we had room for desert and tried their famous 'ooey gooey' chocolate cake, but were a little disappointment with that one, nothing special really.

Nevertheless, it was a great meal, made really special by Judy and Frank, who treat you like family right from the start, as if they've known you for years.

It was the perfect ending of a gorgeous day!